Since its withdrawal from the MotoGP world championship in 2008, Kawasaki has raised many questions. Why did this Japanese giant choose to abandon the premier category to concentrate on WSBK?
Kawasaki confirmed according to this source that a return to MotoGP is not on the agenda, citing financial, logistical and strategic reasons. This announcement reflects a pragmatic choice, based on the challenges encountered by the manufacturer during its participation in the premier category between 2002 and 2008.
During his seven seasons in MotoGP, Kawasaki achieved some notable performances. Shinya Nakano achieved a memorable third place in the
Japanese Grand Prix in 2004and the team obtained a second place in the Chinese Grand Prix in 2005. However, the Ninja ZX-RRdespite its progress, has never reached a sufficient level of competitiveness to regularly compete with the best machines on the field.
This difficulty in performing, combined with exorbitant costs, has pushed Kawasaki to withdraw fin
2008in the midst of the global economic crisis. Today, strict rules for new factory teams and a more intense racing calendar also deter the manufacturer from returning to MotoGP.
Kawasaki no longer thinks about MotoGP
Kawasaki has found its ideal field of expression in World Superbike (WSBK). Since 2013, the Japanese brand has won several world titles, with Tom Sykes
and above all Jonathan Reawho dominated the discipline from 2015. These successes illustrate the perfect alignment between the objectives of
Kawasaki and the specifics of the WSBK championship.
The WSBK offers a more accessible showcase, with machines derived from production models, which directly reflect the know-how of Kawasaki to its customers. This strategy also proves more profitable than the massive investment required for MotoGP.
Pour KawasakiMotoGP represents a demanding environment, both financially and technically, which does not correspond to its current priorities. By building on its success in WSBK, the manufacturer maximizes its return on investment while strengthening its image as a leader in the field of production motorcycles.
This choice shows that, sometimes, it is better to excel in a discipline that corresponds to one's strengths rather than dispersing oneself into challenges less aligned with one's objectives.
